Sign



Patented Dec. 27, 1938 PATENT OFFICE SIGN George D. Duntze, St.

one-half to Herman Mo.

Application April l30,

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to signs, and more particularly to a neon sign of compact jar-proof construction.

Heretofore it has been impractical to employ neon signs and the like upon trucks and other moving bodies inasmuch as travel-shocks transmitted by such vehicles to the sign resulted in breakage of the devices, for it is well known that neon signs are of inherently fragile construction inasmuch as they include glass tubing of relatively small thickness. Up to now, no neon sign has been devised which will stand the hard usage incident to truck travel. Other diiculties well known in the sign art are present in the use of such neon signs on moving vehicles and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a neon sign so boxedv and assembled as ytobe substantially jar-proof.

Another object is to provide a neon sign encased in such manner as to be adapted to general use, either upon vehicles or in stationary position.

Another object is to provide a neon sign so boxed as to present to the observer only the legend sought to be advertised.

Another object is to provide a neon sign so constructed as to render the internal portions thereof substantially weather proof.

Another object is to provide a neon sign economical to manufacture, simple of construction, and adaptedto fulfill all the requirements demanded thereof.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of an embodiment of a neon sign constructed in line with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Y Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, lil indicates generally a boxed neon sign constructed in line with the present invention. There is shown a box or casing which includes the iront piece l l, the rear piece l2, the longitudinal sides i3 and the ends Ill. The front and rear pieces are held in place by means of the securing screws l5 or the like. Obviously the particular shape of the box is immaterial and would be so f designed to fit the contemplated use. Further, it may be of wood, metal, or other materials. The front piece has cut therein the legend desired to be advertised by the sign. In the present case,

Louis, Mo., assigner of C. Stoffregen, St. Louis,

1936, Serial No. 77,089

(Cl. I0- 133) for illustration, there are shown the letters A B C. The lettering is cut into the front piece in a manner to present an outwardly bevelled or flared cross-section as can be perceived by an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4. The bevelled sides I6 of the incisions are adapted to be painted or colored to contrast to the paint or color applied to the outside surface of the front piece, which presents a distinctive means of effectively displaying the legend. Tubing I1 for holding neon gas is fixed to the rear face of the front piece by means of the plastic material i8, which is adapted to hold the tubing firmly and securely against the support in jar-proof relation thereto, so that the tubing moves with the front piece and is therefore not subject to the destructive torsion which would result did it lag the same in sudden movements. Other securing means, such as clips may be employed, but whatever the means used, the tubing must be substantially fixed relative to the front piece. It will be appreciated that the tubing follows the incisions to outline the display legend, the tubing resting directly in the incisions and completely filling the same as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Those portions of the tubing which rest in the incisions are backed by refiection paint I9 which serves both to reflect the light and to shut out inspection of the casing interior. Thus the return bends 20 and the connecting portions 2l of the tubing and the electrodes 22 are completely concealed at the rear of the front piece. Electric wires 23 pass through holes 24 bored in the longitudinal side of the box and connect with the electrodes. Securing means 25 hold the Wires in place. No detailed description of the electrodes and the associated connections is given inasmuch as such forms no part of the present invention, electrodes and the like being well known in the neon art.

It will be readily understood from a study of the above description, taken in thelight of the drawing, that the applicant has provided a neon sign so encased as to effect all of the advantages sought. Thus it will be appreciated that the neon gas tubing is substantially fixed against the back of the front piece and within the casing. Actual tests have shown that the present sign will stand the severest jolts and jars without breakage of any sort, either in the tubing or the electrodes. The parts are so closely related in their final positions that movement therebetween of the slightest degree is practically impossible. Such a sign is adapted to be used on trucks, trains, and any other moving body with the highest efficiency,

advertising medium.

It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying drawing are given as a means of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not to be taken as limitations, the invention being limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sign adapted to be used upon a truck or other moving body comprising a casing having an outwardly bevelled legend cut through .a face thereof, gas tubing within the casing, certain portions of which extend into and fully denne the legend, the remaining portions of said tubing' comprising return bends and connecting segments, and means holding the tubing including the legend defining portions, the return bends, and the connecting segments, immovably in place against the supporting face in jar-proof relation thereto to obviate breakage due to road-shocks transmitted to the casing.

2. A sign comprising a closed casing including removable front and rear pieces, outwardly bevelled letteringcut through the front piece, tubing containing gas within the casing and jar-proof supported at the rear of the front piece with portions of the tubing resting Within and defining the lettering, said rear side closing the casing to completely enclose the tubing.

3. In a device of thekind described, a casing including a removable front piece, a legend cut through the front piece, the cuts being bevelled from rear to front of the said piece to present a nare, gas tubing Within the casing dening the legend in nesting relation to the narrow portion of the ilare, and means holding the tubing rmly within the said narrow portion of the flare and both for display purposes and for a long-livedY the return bends and connecting portions thereof rmly against the rear of the piece so that the tubing will move with the iront piece in sudden movement thereof caused b-y shocks and the like.

4. A jar-proof sign comprising a casing including a removable front piecehaving an outwardly bevelled legend cut therethrough, gas-filled tubing defining and extending into said bevelled legend, and means securing said tubing including the return bends and connecting segments immovably against the back of the front piece.

5. A sign comprising a closed casing including ar removable front piece having an outwardly flared legend cut therethrough, gas-filled tubing dening said legend and extending thereinto .a distance less than the thickness of the front piece, and means securing said tubing in place in immovable jar-proof relation to said front piece.

6. A jar-proof sign comprising a casing including a removable front piece having a legend cut therethrough, gas-lled tubing defining said legend, and hardened plastic material securing said legend defining portion of the tubing immovably in the cut-out andthe return bends and connecting portions immovably against the rear side of the front piece.

7. A sign comprising a casing including a removable front piece having an outwardly flared legend cut therethrough, said are following and emphasizing the legend, gas-lled tubing defining said legend and extending into the are a distance less than the thickness of the front piece, reflection paint at the rear of the legend dening portion of the tubing, and means securing said tubing immovably in position against the front piece. l

GEORGE D. DUNTZE. 

